A new entertainment city in Malaysia to attract talent from all over Asia

Asia Momentum Entertainment (AME) press conference in KL announces top management (from left): Hong Kong actor Frankie Lam as AME deputy CEO (Hong Kong), Asia Television Holding Limited (ATV) co-chairman Deng Junjie, ATV co-chairman Datuk Seri Jessy Lai, Singaporean filmmaker Jack Neo as AME global CEO and AME acting principal (Singapore), Malaysian musician Kif Valentine (real name Tan Choon Khai) as AME general manager (Malaysia).

A new mega entertainment city being set up in Klang Valley aims to become a regional entertainment hub attracting diverse talents from all over Asia.

This Asian film and TV city will be developed by Asia Momentum Entertainment (AME), the digital arm of Hong Kong’s Asia Television Holdings Limited (ATV).

Established in 1957, ATV was the first television station in Hong Kong and reaches an estimated 100 million viewers from Hong Kong, Macau, Guangdong and North America.

In keeping with changing times and the current demand for streaming services, ATV has decided to go digital and build a new entertainment empire here.

Apart from developing its own films, TV series and variety shows, AME aims to recruit and nurture talents from various countries.

The headquarters of AME in Malaysia is expected to occupy a space of 9,290sq m at The Heritage, Mines Resort City, Seri Kembangan in Selangor.

The AME app is currently being developed and will be available for download during the official launch of AME in Hong Kong on June 28.

A press conference was conducted recently in Kuala Lumpur by co-chairmen of Hong Kong’s Asia Television Holding Limited (ATV) Deng Junjie and Datuk Seri Jessy Lai (Mon Space founder) to announce the key figures of their operation in four countries: Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Among the top management named during the press conference are Singaporean filmmaker Jack Neo as AME global CEO and AME acting principal (Singapore), Hong Kong actor Frankie Lam as AME Hong Kong deputy CEO, Taiwanese media practitioner Dr Argus Lee as AME Taiwan deputy CEO and Malaysian musician Kif Valentine as AME Malaysia general manager.

In his speech, Deng said: “With the leadership of Datuk Seri Lai who managed to assemble this group of distinguished media professionals, we hope to restore ATV to its former glory and take it to greater heights.”

Lai said: “Within the next three to five years, we’ll do our best to lay a solid foundation for a visionary platform. Developing our own original content is key.”

Neo added: AME is the long-awaited platform that will provide a new space for entertainers and content creators from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan to showcase their talent and versatility.”

As a long-time Hong Kong entertainer, Lam says he knows exactly what audiences desire. “(They want) more options to choose from. So, with that in mind, we should work together to create more programmes of superior quality for AME so that audiences in Asia can have a greater variety of shows to choose from.”

Lee, who was unable to attend due to other commitments, communicated his thoughts via a video message: “Building a film and TV city in Malaysia will see development potential and economic benefits brought by entertainment business opportunities.”

Better known as a harmonica world champion, Kif pointed out Malaysia’s strength in its multi-racial diversity.

“Being a multi-cultural country means Malaysia is full of versatile talents, who are only lacking a platform to showcase their capabilities, ” Kif said.

“I have great expectations for AME’s future and hope to use the platform to drive the development of Malaysian film and television, and discover more talent.”